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São Mateus da Calheta is a civil parish within the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 3,757,〔(Instituto Nacional de Estatística )〕 in an area of 5.98 km².〔(Eurostat )〕 It is located on the periphery of the urbanized area of the city of Angra do Heroísmo (approximately four from the center, and developed from a small fishing port in a bay along the volcanic coast of the island (''calheta'' is Portuguese for ''small bay''). ==History== During the early period of settlement, the São Mateus coast was dotted by bays, some peppered with small beaches. One of these, which became known as ''Prainha'', soon became centre of small fishing port. Gaspar Frutuoso, writing in his sixth volume of ''Saudades da Terra'', referred to the area as ''São Mateus da Prainha'', noting: ''"In addition to the church of São Mateus Além, is a small bay of white sand and small stones in places, where on occasion they throw-out their nets and trammels to catch many fish, principally mullet."'' It was Pedro de Merelim who first coined the name ''São Mateus da Prainha'', in his chapter on the parish, in ''As 18 paróquias de Angra''. During the decade of 1580, in anticipation of eventual attacks by forces loyal to King Philip II of Spain, the first forts began to be constructed along the coast: six forts lined the banks of the parishes coast, which included the Grande Fort and the Fort of Negrito. They served the purpose of defending political activities in the archipelago, but also safeguarded the pillaging from pirates and privateers that occurred during this period (which was the justification for the construction of the Fort of the Terreiro, the Fort of the Maré, the Fort of Má Ferramenta and the Fort of São João (São Mateus da Calheta) (also known as the Fort of Biscoitinho).〔 The final defences were actually completed during the Second World War, with the extension of trenchs and installation of gun emplacements.〔 Father Manuel Luís Maldonado, writing in his work ''Fenix Nagrense'' recounted the penitence of the peoples of the parish, as a sequence of the 26 March 1690 storm and 5 April 1690 earthquake.〔 These accounts explain the strong relationship between the parish of São Mateus and São Bartolomeu de Regatos, and the existence of a parochial church in the vicinity of the ''old church'', the reference to fishing and the level of poverty. Father António Cordeiro, writing in 1710 wrote of large estates, the coastal fortresses (some with more than 9 pieces of artillery), their garrisons and of the community of São Matues ''"with more than 50 neighbours"'' spread across the territory.〔 Cordeiro also wrote of the fishing: ''"...this bay in São Mateus, of white sand and small pebbles, where they catch a lot of fish, and salmonettes."''〔 The primitive parochial church, constructed at ''Ponta de S. Mateus'' around 1557 would substitute the older chapel. During the construction, the people returned to the smaller ''Hermitage of Luz'' to complete the weekly rituals.〔 The new church (today known as the ''Old Church'') was completed in 1700, and functioned in that role until a 28 August 1893 hurricane when the church was destroyed and abandoned.〔 Between 1694 and 1700 the church was demolished and reconstructed farther to the interior: a cross was left in the former churchyard.〔 Writing in 1834, Luís de Meireles do Canto e Castro, a local resident, complained of the poor protection the seawall offered, resulting in repeated encroachments by the sea.〔 During the 18th century, and early 19th century, the population grew rapidly and the first defensive structure began appearing along the Terreiro and beach near the port.〔 After the 18th century the character of the parish began to change: the population grew and much of the economic activity moved away the orchards of the local estates.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「São Mateus da Calheta」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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